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Friday, November 19, 2010

Turtle nesting season 2010

The hawksbill turtles (kare) and the Green Turtles (torti ver) are the most common marine turtles known by most Seychellois. On rare occasions the loggerhead (torti nanmkoyo) and the leather turtles (torti karanbol) can be seen as passers-by in our waters.

Is it true that time is running out for our turtles?

For us to understand this question, let us ask ourselves few simple questions: When was the last time you saw a turtle nesting on beach? When was the last time you saw turtle hatchlings rushing down the beach to the sea? What has been done to ensure that time is not running out for these charismatic creatures which wander our underwater world?

The turtle nesting season this year started quietly for many important nesting beaches in the Seychelles. The friends of the turtles all over our islands have been actively gearing up for this year’s nesting season and have been on the lookout to monitor the turtles coming ashore with the egg clutches. In some areas, sightings have been few; some beaches have been graced by the presence of the tracks while some have sheltered the eggs freshly laid by the females. Some females can come up several times to lay up to eight clutches during one nesting season.On Denis Island, turtles have been sighted numerous times; green turtles have been seen once late afternoon nesting and other times only the tracks and huge pits have been observed all around the island. Amazingly, over 10 pits were seen on a narrow stretch of the beach close to the lighthouse. Since early October, active monitoring for the hawksbill turtles have started; some walks have been spectacular as the turtles were found up the beach front. Other times, only the tracks could be seen. For the avid nature lovers who happened to be on the beach early Tuesday 2nd November, they were able to experience first hand a hawksbill turtle coming up on the beach, searching for the ideal spot, nest and returned back to the sea.

There were lots of “WOW”, “C’est merveilleux” as well as interesting questions about the biology and ecology of this charismatic organism. Early that same day, a nice couple happened to have their own private show of another turtle nesting and they videoed it as souvenir to take home.
Active monitoring is still ongoing and we are all patiently waiting for the first batch of hatchlings to emerge hopefully within the next month or so. Whether you are just a picnicker, a beach bum or just happen to wander around on a beach, keep an eye for any tracks and your ears open for any sand throwing all over the place, especially among the Scaevola sp. Inform a local who will take note of this organism’s status, as such information is valuable to further enhance its protection as well as provide additional knowledge of its ecology.
The Green Islands Foundation is a Seychelles registered NGO dedicated to the mainstreaming of sustainable development. Established on 11th April 2006, GIF aims to establish equilibrium and potential synergies of development and environment at the core of its operations and seeks, as its main activity, to bridge the gap between the private sector and national environmental programmes. It also functions as coordinator for environmental initiatives on and relating to Denis Island as well as initiating coastal zone management projects on Grand-Anse Praslin and North Island.

The logo designed by Mr. Aubrey Adeline depicts GIF’s modus operandi: mainstreaming sustainable development, which can be in all aspects, from life itself in the form of a green leaf captured in the logo, to island management as well as to the marine (blue colour) and terrestrial ecosystems (green colour).

For more information on the projects and activities of GIF, feel free to check out its blogs on the following addresses: www.greenislandsfoundation.blogspot.com or www.denisisland.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

What GIF have been doing


It’s been a while since you’ve last read a post on our blog- rest assured that we have been putting ideas together while finalizing various contracts and project documents. Now, we can spare few minutes to provide a brief of our adventures!

GIF have now finalized and signed contracts for two projects- the large project under the MFF initiative entitled “Coastal development and ecosystem Modelling as a tool to enable improved local and national policy decision-making processes” is a joint submission by both GIF and Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles (MCSS) and a small grant as part of the GEF SGP programme for a project entitled “Increasing public awareness and educating the local communities in understanding the behavioural ecology of sharks in order to reduce conflicts between fishermen and dive operators in Seychelles.”(See photos in side bar)

MFF Large project: This project was ranked the highest among all regional submissions and is the only one for the Seychelles. Dr. David Rowat from MCSS signed the contract on behalf of both organizations. This is a 24month project, involving various partners (government and private) and will develop a baseline, parameters and technical tools to provide a platform for enhanced coastal zone management. Four sites (Denis and North Islands, Beau Vallon and Intendance) representative of the diversity of coastal development scenarios in Seychelles have been selected for the implementation of pilot projects. Each site will be surveyed and assessed for the environmental services they provide and the biodiversity assemblages and economic activities they support. These baselines will be used to develop environmental parameters and technical tools to inform planning and development decision-making processes in particular the scoping, undertaking and assessment of EIAs. The projects will also be used to develop public information packs on coastal development and management to promote and empower the involvement of local communities in the decision-making process. The project’s objective is to strengthen the technical and scientific basis of, and empower local community involvement in, coastal management decision making-processes.

SGP: Working with local communities forms an integral part of GIF’s list of activities and these communities are of various age groups and field of expertise. GIF’s project will assist in the successful implementation of some of the work programmes of the national plan of action for the conservation and management of sharks (Shark NPOA).

This proposal which will be targeting the conservation of biodiversity will tie in well with GIF’s main goal of mainstreaming sustainable development. Shark meat is a major food and income sources for various local and global communities. On the local scale, sharks as an apex predator have crucial roles in the food web as well as on the ecosystem. It is also an excellent protein source for locals since the first human settlement. However, sharks have been fished for decades and with increased long-line fisheries and improved technology, have led to its declining population. There is the crucial need to sustainably manage the existing stock and educate the local communities with high reliance on this resource, not only for conservation purposes but also to ensure that the sharks’ ecological roles are maintained. Nevertheless, there are a lot of unknowns about the sharks, especially in terms of the population structure and phylogeny. There is also increased conflicts between the fishers and the diving industry due to the high shark fishing activity occurring on sites with large numbers of sharks This proposal aims to increase the local ecological knowledge of the local communities from all walks of life (researchers, fishermen, and other biodiversity users) on the importance of understanding the biological aspects of key species that are crucial to their livelihoods, on the socio-economic and ecological levels. Once this has been identified, with increased public awareness, local communities can better manage this resource which is vital to their livelihood and at the same time, further enhance biodiversity conservation for future generations.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Eradication of Common Mynas from Denis Island, Seychelles, 2010 (Courtesy Prof. Chris Feare)

An attempt to eradicate Common Mynas Acridotheres tristis from Denis Island, Seychelles, began in late May 2010. The justification for the present control is evidence that mynas are directly and indirectly impacting negatively on the populations of some of the introduced endemic birds. An earlier attempt had been made, mainly using Starlicide (a toxicant that demonstrates some specificity to certain bird families, including mynas) in the early 2000s but this attempt was abandoned after a contemporaneous rat eradication attempt had failed; a subsequent rat eradication was successful. Now that four species of Seychelles endemic bird have been introduced to Denis, this toxicant is considered too dangerous for the endemics to be used as a primary control measure and the current attempt to remove mynas is centred on trapping.
In the initial stages two kinds of trap were built and tested: funnel traps, which rely on attractive food to entice mynas into the traps, and decoy traps, which use a live decoy myna in a central compartment to attract nearby mynas. Mist nets were also used in initial trials where flocks of mynas concentrated, as were fine nylon nooses placed on the ground among bait. In trials, only decoy trapping proved effective and the eradication attempt now relies almost entirely on decoy traps, although other techniques may be used later in the project.
Achievements to date

1. Demonstration of the effectiveness of decoy traps in Denis Island’s habitats (and of the poorer performance of funnel traps, mist nets and ground nooses).
2. In the first two and a half months of the project over 500 mynas have been caught, out of a population estimated at about 1000 birds before trapping began (Jildou van der Woude).
3. Discovery that when groups of traps are placed together, catch rate among traps is variable. Experimental manipulation showed this not due to trap location or possible variation in trap structure or operation, but was due to presence of a specific decoy myna. Elucidation of what constitutes a “super-attractive” myna could improve trapping success.
4. Discovery that iris colour changes as juveniles mature, and that it is variable in adult mynas. Whether this variation represents continuing maturity, and is therefore related to age, or whether it is part of an annual cycle, or reflects mood of an individual, is unknown. Data are being recorded routinely among other features of all mynas caught. If a relation is found between iris colour and attractiveness as defined in section 3 above, this could be a pointer towards selecting attractive decoys.
Throughout May, at the beginning of the eradication, adult mynas were in wing moult, indicating that they were not breeding. In June wing moult was completed and breeding began. This was accompanied by a reduction in the rate at which birds were caught in decoy traps. A number of possibilities could explain this: requirement for different foods by nesting birds, reduced attraction to decoys and traps due to over-use of the decoys and lack of trap maintenance and cleaning, and reduced motivation of the trapper. Decoys were replaced with new birds and traps were overhauled, leading to a recovery in trapping rate. It appears that food choice of the birds did not change and that reduced motivation of the trapper led to lack of attention to the detail of trapping.
6. Comparative failure of funnel traps due largely to occupation of these by turtle doves (especially where food concentrations occur – see below) and crabs, mainly hermit crabs, when traps placed near the beach crest. Denis Island’s populations of Madagascar turtle doves, and also moorhens and mynas, are very high, indicating that the island provides abundant sources of food for them. The main food source concentrations identified are the pig farm, the food store on the northern coast, and the food offered to birds in the garden at the restaurant. Limitation of these food sources to birds would help to reduce the bird populations and would also help to reduce food wastage and its costs.
Lessons learned
We have within two and a half months removed almost half of Denis Island’s population of mynas and have additionally learned much new information about mynas and their behaviour in relation to trapping, including some insights into improvements that may be made. This success suggests that a major reduction in myna numbers on the island is feasible and that eradication should not be ruled out as a possibility and should remain the long-term goal. Decoy trapping is likely to remain the main tool but other techniques may need to be employed as numbers decline, with shooting at the nest being particularly important in the later stages.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Sooty tern project

Previously, sooty terns Onychoprion fuscatus(formerly Sterna fuscata) nested on several island in the Seychelles group but on most islands, especially the smaller ones, colonies became extinct as a result of excessive egg and adult harvesting by people, introduction of exotic predators, and alteration of the habitat Following the successful eradication of rodents and felines early in 2000, Denis island proved to be an ideal site for such re-introduction as these characteristics coupled with food availability and proximity to the supplies proved key aspects that will cater for possible settlement. In addition, an area of ~2ha of open ground with attractant stimuli is available to encourage sooty terns to nest.

As part of Denis Island’s conservation effort, a sooty tern re-colonization programme was initiated in 2008, under the supervision of Professor Chris Feare. Sooties started to arrive on Denis early in June. The ‘wide-awake’ calls could be heard from the lighthouse area, all the way to the dive centre and the sooty tern area. For the month of June, every day was exciting as the situation with the sooty terns was unpredictable. There were days when hundreds of sooties flew over the island, to and fro in search of the ideal landing site and times when several birds landed for minutes and even hours. In the week of June, the island was a marvel to look at; high above in the sky as the colony moved from one end of the island to the next. There was one occasion where hundreds of sooties landed for hours, while some flew around trying to locate the perfect spot on the ground (see photo in side bar).


Friday 2nd July was particularly special to a lot of us who were present on the island. Though it was a rainy morning, there was excitement on the beach in front of the dive centre. More than 300 sooty terns landed on that beach, from the tip in front of the restaurant, right to the high water mark in front of the dive centre. It was unbelievable; having volunteers constantly monitoring their behaviour and movement at the designated area when the birds chose a different spot was quite disheartening for them. Helena and I were very lucky to be at the right place at the right time (See videos below and photos in side bar). It was amazing just to stand and admire those birds which not much is known of their migratory routes and behaviour post nesting season. Since then, the numbers have reduced considerably, with a handful being observed flying around every now and then.

Click on links below for footage of the sooty terns on the beach:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDJ90OLw1HI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrm0yepNK6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1TH6Gy8En4

Friday, July 30, 2010

The current information on the nature of the artisanal shark catch is highly deficient. Some information is gathered on an ad-hoc basis at the main fish market in Victoria – but by this stage the vast majority of sharks have been dressed – i.e. head, tail and fins removed – leaving just a trunk which is often limiting to correct species identification. Monitoring at the landing grounds is also difficult as the time when the boats return to each of their respective stations, varies with weather, workload and location of fishing activity. Furthermore the fishers will often dress the shark while at sea as it: serves to prevent spoiling of the meat, provides for more space and reduces the load in the small boats as they return to shore.

Good catch information is the best means for understanding the status and spatiotemporal distribution of the various species of shark that go to make the shark stocks on the Mahe plateau. Only with such data can informed and adaptive management decisions be made for the benefit of the sustainability of the stocks and the artisanal fishers who depend on them.

So what is required is a simple and pragmatic method of gathering useful data on the catch by the fishermen themselves. Furthermore, this information gathered by the fishers and derived from a catch gained by the application of their own skill, knowledge and effort is in effect their information/property and should be managed and utilised accordingly.

This project therefore seeks to develop a data gathering method that fits in with the practicalities of the fishers’ demanding work and yet still provides useful information. To realize this objective there are several factors to be considered. Central to this is to ensure the standardisation of information collected. The nomenclature for sharks in Seychelles Creole is complicated: the name for some species of shark varies from one region to the next – the bull shark for example has 4 commonly used Creole names. Likewise several species can be grouped together under one name by local fishermen who do not distinguish between physically similar sharks – this is the case for the shark known locally as “nene pwent” which in fact covers at least 4 species. Research undertaken in 2005 served to clarify somewhat this diversity of terminology but further verification is required. To enable this, the project is developing in tandem with the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) a shark identification key which brings together all the known Creole names for the sharks, this will be tested and no doubt corrected over time by the fishermen themselves. In addition a simple shark data sheet will be developed that can be transferred to waterproof note books and enable the ready recording of data. Information required will be restricted to the date, species and simple size classification for each specimen.

Finally it is proposed, under the GIF/MFF project to purchase 3 digital cameras with waterproof dive casings to enable the fishermen to photograph any unusual sharks or specimens they are unsure of the identity of. They can then dress the shark and its species identity can still be investigated from the images captured.

The first draft of a data sheet has been developed in consultation with Mr. Vincent Lucas of SFA and will next be discussed with the fishers to get their feedback on the practicality of the format proposed. This is a key first step in empowering the fishers to take charge of their own data collection and thereby fulfill one of their key obligations under the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (Contributed by John Nevill).

Sunday, July 18, 2010

In the Seychelles context Artisanal Shark Fishermen (ASF) are loosely defined as artisanal fishermen who actively target shark and generate approximately 30% or more of their annual income from that fishery.

The use of shark nets was banned in 1998 (Prohibition of net fishing of sharks Reg. 16c 1st August 1998) due to concern regarding by-catch of turtles, marine mammals and non-target whale sharks. Following this the method known locally as “drag” – an anchored long line up to 400 metres in length with anything from 40-120 baited hooks on drop lines – has been developed and utilised in the fishery.

The ASF operate out of small open boats with outboard engines and their range is in general restricted to within 15 miles of their home anchorage. Each boat is typically able to set up to four drag per trip. The fishermen utilise their specialised knowledge of the Seychelles plateau, often passed down within family units, and set their lines in the evening to drift over prime areas and catch the shark as they mobilize in the evening and night time. The lines are retrieved in early morning. The method is largely non-selective, though variations in depth of hook, bait and habitat fished can be utilised to target certain species.

The fishery is typified by the diverse and full use of shark products for the local market. Fresh shark meat is sold each day at the fish market, the meat is also salted and sundried for sale. The especially thick skin of the head of the shark and for some species the entire skin is often flayed and salted for separate sale as a local delicacy “lapo latet reken”. The stomachs are likewise sometimes salted for use, whilst the teeth, spines and jaws of some species are used to make jewelry or for sale as trophies. The fins are of course cut and dried for export to the Asian market.

What is important to note is that this constitutes a wise use of the resource – landing and using the whole animal – as opposed to the wasteful and unsustainable practice of simply fining sharks and discarding the carcass at sea. Furthermore this fishery supplies an important source of cheap, quality protein to the local population. The economic difficulties that Seychelles has passed through over the last 2 years have underlined its importance as local demand for shark meat has increased considerably due to its value-for-money pricing relative to many other fish species.

The GIF project is still in the process of identifying all the ASF on the three main islands and attempting to bring them together so that they can cooperate to better manage their fishery and also properly defend their rights to their traditional livelihood. The site visit to Praslin early this month (2nd to 4th July) was successful with 5 ASF identified there and interviewed. The next step is to bring the ASF together so that they can identify and discuss their common concerns and deliberate on how they can best cooperate.

It is important that all ASF are identified because the National Plan of Action for sharks will seek at some point to license the fishery and close it to newcomers as part of the process of improving management of shark stocks on the plateau – a complete listing is therefore required to protect the rights of these fishers to accessing their means of livelihood(Contributed By John Nevill).

Friday, July 9, 2010

Coastal zone workshop on Denis Island


As part of the ReCoMaP’s funded coastal zone project, a stakeholder workshop was carried out in the first week of May on Denis Island. The main aim of the workshop was to introduce the stakeholders of Denis Island to the ReCoMaP project and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) processes The setting up of the beach profiling points and the turtle monitoring protocol as well as training on beach profiling methods, turtle identification and tagging were the key workshop outputs.. After the initial stakeholder consultations on Denis Island in April, GIF staff also included presentations on coastal erosion and turtle monitoring. Concerns on these aspects of the island were raised during the initial stakeholder consultations. A steering committee was set up as well on the island to ensure that the project is being implemented and at the same time promote conservation initiatives within the island community.
The potential steering committee members had already been shortlisted previously on Mahe with following discussions with the Managing Director of the Denis Island Development Pty Ltd. This was the more realistic approach to use when staff movement, shifts and the island’s everyday operations are taken into consideration. A large number of the proposed members included front office staff because they are generally the first point of contact with visitors of Denis Island and it was found that the selected members were very keen to participate in the project. A list of equipment which includes a desktop computer, turtle tags and an applicator, GPS, beach profiling poles and an abney level were given to the chairperson of the steering committee to assist in the monitoring of the key coastal indicators.
The first part of the workshop involved the various presentations on the key coastal indicators of the island, which pertain mostly to coastal dynamics and biodiversity. Great levels of interests were generated from the participants, following the theoretical aspects of the training. The level of enthusiasm for the field survey surely surpassed our expectation. The photos on the side bar illustrate this clearly. Setting up the beach profiling reference points: The project team decided to use the standard Seychelles beach profiling method that was officially launched in July 2003. The method was developed by Dr. Gillian Chambers and is simple and easy to use. GIF adopted this method so as to enable data comparison between islands as this method is the Seychelles’ standard. The GPS reference of each point was also recorded.
At the end of the workshop and during the island visit, the monitoring stations for the beach profiles were established (see map above), the first data set was collated and a group of keen volunteers was identified to partake in data collection.

Figure 1:Map of Denis Island with the location and number of the reference points for the beach profiling monitoring exercise and the 6 different turtle monitoring sections.
For more information on the workshop for the Grand Anse Praslin site, do check the Green Islands Foundation blog on:

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The coastal zone project on the other pilot site obtained national media attention for various reasons. First and foremost, it brought Praslin into the limelight, showcasing a national focus of an active local community taking the necessary steps to assist in conserving what they have now, not only for their benefits but also for those yet to come. Furthermore, this is a novel project in the Seychelles and hence deserved a wider audience.



To our surprise which turned out to be a good one, we had quite a good stakeholder turnout, which surpassed my expectation. It was a good chance for us to learn how we can assist a dynamic community where coastal zone issues are primordial to their livelihoods The main aim of the workshop was to increase awareness of the stakeholders to the project, identify & prioritize the coastal issues on the Grand Anse-Amitie coast of Praslin and seek preliminary feedback on potential solutions, propose/approve key indicators identified to establish the necessary baselines and establish a steering committee for the Praslin site.



Please click on the link below to read the full Nation’s article: www.nation.sc/index.php/index.php?art=19699



To view the media coverage for the workshop, click on either links below:



You tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohhWrr50sPY

Daily motion: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xe1cki_iczm-workshop-on-grand-anse-praslin_tech -

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The granitic Seychelles are situated on the Mahe Plateau an enormous bank of some 12,000 square miles in the western Indian Ocean. The Mahe Plateau is shallow, on average around 50 metres in depth, and abounds with life. At the “drop-off”, where the shelf falls away rapidly into the abyss, cool “upwellings” of nutrient rich water spawn chains of life from algal blooms, through krill to tuna, sword fish, sharks and whales. The shallow waters of the plateau are dotted with patch reefs whilst larger fringing reefs occur around the islands.

The Mahe plateau is central to Seychelles development and economy. It has since first settlement of the islands, in 1770, provided the population with high quality, affordable protein and the artisanal fishery continues to be a major contributor to the local economy and export balance. The health of the coastal ecosystem is therefore central to the socioeconomic stability and sustainable development of the country.

The early explorers and first settlers of the Seychelles archipelago recorded abundant fishery resources around the islands and along the “drop –off” – in particular they noted the great abundance and variety of sharks that teamed in the waters. This was prime evidence of a very rich and productive ecosystem. Sadly the shark stocks of the Mahe plateau have been greatly reduced with the first major declines being driven by a schooner-based targeted shark fishery in the 1940s – 1960s. Shark catch as a percentage of the overall artisanal catch has fallen by an order of magnitude over the last 80 years (Nevill, J. 2005).

Species regularly caught by fishers however, indicate that the plateau still supports a good diversity of species for at least part of their respective lifecycles and hence good management regimes have the potential to increase future populations and catches.

Sharks however, are more significant than merely a source of protein, as they play a key ecosystem role. All heterotrophs by definition rely on other living organisms for food. Feeding/predator-prey relationships provide the framework for ecosystem structure and function. If all the lions, leopards and cheetah were removed from the Serengeti one could expect a significant cascading effect on the ecosystem and possibly a phase-shift to another stable equilibrium. Although the dynamics of marine ecosystems are less well understood – the same principles can be applied and indeed fishing down of predators is considered the driving force behind the collapse in Caribbean coral reef ecosystems and the decline in Alaskan Kelp forests.
Now clearly it is more complex than that as food-web relationships work in both directions, top-down and bottom-up but nevertheless managing the coastal shark fishery such that viable shark populations are retained to fulfill their ecological role is an important factor in maintaining a healthy, diverse and productive coastal ecosystem that provides environmental services and supports other artisanal fishery activities.

As mentioned in the previous post, below, the Government of Seychelles published, in 2007, its National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA) (Nevill, J. 2007) thereby addressing its commitment under the FAO International Plan of Action.

One of the key limiting factors restricting effective management of the shark fishery is a lack of information on the catch and in particular its species content by the various fisheries. The GIF-MFF project seeks to help address this information shortfall by providing the tools and developing the capacity for artisanal shark fishermen (ASF)to start collecting their own fishery data.

The project is now under way with preliminary meetings with ASF on Mahe initiated and ongoing and the first field trip to the Seychelles second island of Praslin scheduled for the coming weekend.

Updates will be posted periodically so please do check back for news on the project’s progress… (Contributed by John Nevill).

Refs:
Nevill, J. (2005). Establishing a baseline for Shark fishery management in the Seychelles. MSc in Coastal Management. University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Nevill, J. (2007). Seychelles National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks. Seychelles Fishing Authority.

Monday, June 21, 2010





The Mangroves For the Future initiative (MFF) was established as a means to assist countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, as the programme has developed it has evolved into an ocean wide approach to coastal zone management seeking to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation as a basis for sustainable development.

The Green Islands Foundation has received support from the MFF small grants facility for a project entitled “Capacity Building in Artisanal Shark Fishermen.” The project seeks to assist artisanal shark fishermen to fulfill their obligations under Seychelles’ National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA) as well as enabling them to properly represent and defend their concerns and livelihoods on the NPOA Steering Committee.

The Seychelles Government launched the NPOA in 2007 and was only the tenth country globally to undertake such an initiative. The long term vision of the NPOA is:

“That Shark Stocks in the Seychelles EEZ are Effectively Conserved and Managed so as to Enable their Optimal Long-term Sustainable Use.”

Its shorter term mission is two-pronged:

“to establish the necessary capacity, systems and databases to enable the informed adaptive management of shark stocks in Seychelles, and
• to implement an active and progressive precautionary approach to the management of targeted and non-targeted shark fishing effort that takes into account the transitional needs of stakeholders.”

Recent research indicates a significant decline in shark populations on the Mahe plateau since the 1930s. Shark populations play an important role in a healthy and balanced ecosystem in the same way that large terrestrial predators are important to natural ecosystems on land. The presence of healthy and diverse shark populations in coastal waters indicates a healthy and diverse ecosystem. Sharks help to control the populations and impacts of meso-consumers which in turn allows for healthy populations of fish stocks important to broader fishery activities.

The Seychelles NPOA identifies Artisanal Shark Fishermen (ASF) as a primary stakeholder in the context of shark populations along with dive companies and the locally licensed semi-industrial long line fleet. It recognizes that the effective participation and buy-in of these groups is essential its success. The NPOA however, also notes that one of the obstacles to its successful implementation is the limited capacity of artisanal shark fishermen to fulfil their obligations as set out in the various work programmes and also to properly represent their concerns on the NPOA steering Committee. This project is therefore designed to address these concerns and in so doing support the implementation of the NPOA as an important national strategic document.
The project sets out 3 categories of activity:

1). Is to bring together as many ASF as possible from the three main islands to identify and discuss their common concerns and utilise this as a basis for them to work together to effectively represent their concerns on the National Steering Committee.

2). Is to develop an efficient and effective means for the fishermen themselves to gather and manage data on their shark catch. This involves standardising all the local names for species, which often vary with locality, so that there is a common understanding of the species caught. Enabling the fishermen to gather and manage their own data is a key step in empowering them to effectively negotiate on the steering committee and to play their critical role in managing the stocks so vital to their own livelihoods.

3). Is the communications programme which will produce media (such as this post) and educational materials about the importance of healthy shark stocks to the broader marine ecosystem and also raise awareness of the sound methods and resource usage practiced in the artisanal fishery where typically the whole shark from its meat, fins, teeth, skin and even some of its entrails are put to productive use.

This project is another sustainable development initiative, where GIF – in line with its articles of association - seeks to work with the private sector to build sustainable livelihoods and maintain the ecosystems that support them for the benefit of all. GIF now has initiatives ongoing on four islands with more projects in the final stages of negotiation.

This post serves merely as introduction to this MFF/GIF project with the artisanal shark fishery. As its various activities are undertaken more posts will be put up providing details of progress and the challenges faced… so please do check back periodically. (Contributed by John Nevill).

Thursday, June 17, 2010

ReCoMaP project

The last three months have been very interesting with project implementation for the GIF team, on both Grand Anse Praslin and Denis Island. The project in question is related to integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), funded by the European Union under the Regional Coastal Management Programme (ReCoMaP).


Entitled “Modelling coastal zone management scenarios in Seychelles using Denis Island and Grand Anse Praslin as pilot sites” this project aims to.address the management issues and user conflicts so as to develop Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) models and technical tools for application on other coasts of Seychelles.

Initiation of this project has been interesting as it allows us to work very closely with local communities dealing with several coastal zone issues, which range from sand movement, coastal hydrodynamics, beach cast and turtle nesting grounds. One of the key aspects of this project which was greatly considered in stakeholder workshops (See next post) is the identification of key community members to form the steering committee at each pilot site. The steering committee will assist greatly in the project implementation, namely in data collection which in the end, will provide the tools to develop an ICZM model and its functioning mechanism at the end of the project. This essential tool will provide the management framework that ensures stakeholders’ operations, meet government policy objectives and at the same time respect the rights of other stakeholders in the community. In the end, it will also provide guidance on environmentally-friendly operations.
There is also a wide array of overarching national stakeholders, namely Ministry of National Development (GIS Unit), Ministry of Environment Natural Resources and Transport (Environmental Engineering and Wetlands Section) and the Planning Authority. At the end of the project, we hope that such key model developed will be adopted at national level, in order to better understand and hopefully manage our coastal zone and its abundant resources.

Please click on the link below to read the full Newspaper article produced prior to the stakeholder workshop for each site:

www.nation.sc/index.php?art=19332

Saturday, June 12, 2010

GIF Staff and work progress

It has been a while since you last read our blog-a lot has happened in terms of project initiation and ongoing activities. I thought it is high time to spare a few hours just to put thoughts on paper so as to share our experiences of the past few months. Several; exciting activities and projects have kick-started and hence, I have not had the time to put everything in writing. I apologise for the delay and I do hope that you will enjoy reading this update.

Following the submission of the first blog by a new person for the year 2010, I find it necessary to introduce myself as well as the other new staff of Green Islands Foundation (GIF). My name is Michelle Etienne and I am the new General Manager of Green Islands Foundation. I graduated from James Cook University in Townsville, Australia with a BSc in Marine Biology and aquaculture. My childhood dream of working within the marine realm came true indeed, and coupled with my work experience from the marine research section of the Marine Parks Authority, I felt equipped with the necessary tools to take up this post. One thing which drew me to GIF is the fact that I am tackling conservation biology and management from a different perspective that is on islands which have made great initial progress in conservation on both national and international fronts. Moreover, these islands have so much to offer in terms of potential research and conservation initiatives. My background is mostly concentrated on marine conservation biology and also broad coastal zone management research. With this job, I am hoping to share my knowledge at the same time enhancing it, to gain maximum in all aspects pertaining to the natural environment of Seychelles.

GIF has also welcomed its Project Manager Mrs. Helena Francourt in March, to assist in the implementation of various projects, notably the newly initiated ReCoMaP project, which started in the 2nd week of March on the Island of Praslin, one of the pilot project sites.
This is what Helena has to say about herself:
“From a very early age I felt drawn to the music of the oceans that surround the Seychelles islands. This is not hard to imagine as I am sure many who have visited the Seychelles Islands will understand. For those who haven’t, our islands are characterised by turquoise waters, golden strands, striking reefs which are bursting with life of all shapes and sizes and all colours of the rainbow. It is particularly the reefs that drew me to explore the marine world. The Seychelles’ reefs are where the coral gardens absorb the intense light from our tropical sun, and the most striking of colours and combinations burst out and are revealed. It is always a gobsmacking experience to dive in the Seychelles.
By the age of 12, I was adamant that I would pursue a career in marine conservation. I started diving as soon as I was old enough to do so and by 18 years of age I was a qualified PADI dive master, working in dive centres during the school holidays. As a student I was also a very active environmental campaigner, participating in many environmental activities such as nature trail clearing, essay writing and public speaking competitions and so on. In the year 2000 my environment club won the prize of all environment club’s dreams; a trip to Aldabra! I am also therefore, one of the very few Seychellois and people of the world in fact who have had the opportunity to visit and dive on this atoll. It is in fact the most beautiful place I have ever visited and the experience is etched within me.
Not long after this life changing experience, I was off to Australia to study Marine Biology! No surprises there! I aced my way through my university exams and was accepted into the Marine Biology Advanced Programme which is designed to mould students for independent research and honors year. Upon my return to the beautiful Seychelles, I worked as a research officer at the Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology (SCMRT) in the Marine Parks Authority. The experience I gained there was very fulfilling. To further diversify and gain different experiences, something which is very important to do here in the Seychelles, I moved to the Green Islands Foundation (GIF) this year (2010). I believe that this will provide endless opportunities to grow and learn about other aspects of conservation other than marine. These include endemic bird introductions and habitat restoration to name a few. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and I am ready to tackle them head on!”

GIF also has an environmental officer, namely Mr. Phil Greenwell working on Denis island, our key project site where we conduct numerous projects, such as the coastal zone management. Phil joined us in April to oversee the magpie robin programme and at the same time getting geared up for Professor Chris Feare’s visit for the sooty tern season and the mynah eradication projects. The two projects started in mid-May. (More details on these projects will be provided in the next post). Phill is based on Denis Island working on a variety of conservation projects. His main responsibilities are myna bird control; feeding & monitoring of the endangered Seychelles Magpie Robin and turtle monitoring.
Since graduating from Reading University in 2009 with his MSc in Wildlife Management & Conservation Phill has lectured BSc students in Animal Management before undertaking his current role with G.I.F. With extensive experience in captive animal management Phill has also gained conservation experience with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in South Wales and the Department of Conservation & Land Management in Western Australia. Avian behavior and management are his main areas of interest, with academic work looking at invasive species (Rainbow lorikeet in Western Australia); preening behavior (inhibitory role of uropygial oil on feather bacteria) and impacts of wild bird trade on conservation. Born and raised in Wales, Phill has travelled widely for work, volunteer, pleasure and education purposes.
The months of March and April were mostly to initiate the ICZM project sponsored by the EU through the ReCoMaP, on both Denis Island and the Grand Anse- Amitie coast of Praslin, two key representative areas of ICZM scenarios in the country (see newspaper article in next post). A list of equipment was purchased to facilitate project implementation, notably in identifying and monitoring of key indicators on each site. Stakeholder analysis and consultations were carried out to assist in the key indicator identification that is, finding the key issues that seem problematic to the local community. A stakeholder workshop was organised at each pilot site with the aim of disseminating information about integrated coastal zone management and also provide training to the residents on the ways to monitor their key indicators, notably turtle monitoring and beach profiling (See photos in side bar).

In May, Denis Island welcomed Professor Chris Feare, who arrived for this year’s sooty tern re-colonisation project as well as to initiate the mynah eradication programme.The first Sooty Tern to be recorded over the ‘sooty tern area’ in 2010 was seen on 1st June, and on 3rd June the first landing was observed. In the mornings and afternoons Sooty terns are now seen frequently over the area and several birds have landed for short or longer periods (one for 40 minutes) (Feare, 2010). There is photographic evidence that mynah birds are major nest predators and competitors to a lot of birds on the island, notably the introduced endemics such as the Seychelles magpie robin and the paradise flycatcher. As a means of control of this invasive alien species on the island, it was necessary to initiate such a programme (See next post).

The last three months have been busy with project initiation and ongoing projects, which have been positive in their outcomes. So far I can say that the GIF team have learnt a lot and seen a whole lot of things from a different perspective.

Monday, March 15, 2010

My first Denis Island Experience

Sunday 21st February was a very interesting day for me- I got to visit Denis Island for the first time! I did not know what to expect as I’ve read so much the island and liking it instantaneously, without really knowing it! As the plane hovered over the island, I sat in awe as I stared down at the crystal clear waters and the array of greens, clearly visible from high above. The first sight of the island surely impressed me. Once the plane landed, I was met by a number of the island staff, from both the hotel and the estate; at that point in time, I knew that there will be lots to do and learn around the island! I was then introduced to Mr. Camille Hoareau who was going to show me around the island to provide me with a good insight of the ‘real thing’ in situ.


After the plane left, it was back to usual business for everyone. I was driven to the staff canteen to enjoy a nice Sunday lunch before checking out my accommodation and doing the island tour. Seeing the mix of staff of the island was interesting- my presence arose some curiosity but before lunch was over, I have talked to several staff and got their perspectives of the island and its biodiversity. My first impression of the island was one of absolute awe; peaceful surrounding with various bird species flying around, perfect sunny weather giving a nice aura to the grass, while the waves slowly splash on the beautiful sandy beaches. With these characters showing off to me, I knew then and there that the island has a lot to offer and its biodiversity is simply amazing, hence worth preserving!


The tour of the island was done in a golf car with Mr. Hoareau as the driver and my camera in focus, to try and capture the best shots as we drove along and stopped at the various sites of interests. Some of the most fascinating things I saw was a Seychelles warbler and a Seychelles magpie robin (Copsychus sechellarum) (photo in side bar) coming quite close to the golf car, following Mr.Hoareau’s call. Driving past and through the woodland forest, I saw the feeding stations of the SMR empty, even if food had just been placed. However, not one of the birds was in sight. The native woodland forest is evergreen and rich of life (picture in side bar); constant bird calls resonating from its every corner are simply amazing. Moving on, I got the chance to see the ongoing rehabilitation area, where young coconut seedlings are pulled out- the shoots are mashed up to provide fodder for the livestock on the estate. Papaya grows in great abundance all around the island and it is amazing to see the size of the fruits on those thin trees. Even if they are found within the woodland boundary and other prime land, the fruits are also used as food source for humans and the livestock. Nothing is wasted really- accumulated seaweeds during the monsoons are placed in a big stack to allow rinsing when it rain and decomposition into more ‘friendly’ materials to be used as compost on the vegetable garden.
Other problematic invasive species are removed from the forest in order to allow young native seedlings to proliferate. This activity is laborious but it is worth mentioning that the estate staff with the help of the management staff is determined to keep it going- well done guys! Lots of effort and investment are being put in the restoration and maintenance of near-natural habitats. This is an ongoing and never-ending venture which must be applauded and further encouraged, to allow continuity and eventually engage other islands to follow suit.


Sometimes we don’t really understand how Nature works! Driving along the coastline, I noticed that there are serious erosion issues, leading to loss of beach materials and vegetation, including beautiful but enormous casuarina trees- a real shame!! There are plans to mitigate some of the vegetation loss and beach erosion, once the ICZM project, funded by the ReCoMaP kick-start. It will not be the answer to this problem, but it will provide a certain degree of coastline protection in the long run. New and large beaches have been formed and large amounts of materials have been transported all along the coastline. This in turn leads to ‘suffocation’ and displacement of coastal vegetation as the plants are fully exposed to other natural elements and the open sea. Large trees such as casuarina that have been resident on the coast are now disappearing at very fast rate, thus raising alarm on the urgency for mitigative measures to be put in place.


Driving past, I noticed a very distinct spot at Bel Etoile beach where the coastal features have molded the reef flat into wonderful architecture; the sight was indeed mesmerizing. This site was very popular for wedding ceremonies but with time, the system has disintegrated with prolong wave erosive actions. Such loss really prompts the urgent need to act now, so as to, if possible, lessen such impact on other coastal features.

As the sun went down, I stood in total amazement as myriads of birds came to settle on their favorite branches and trees for the night. I made a new friend, a fairy tern which was curious to observe what I was doing with the camera. I tried to take its photo but it was too busy playing and in the end, I chose to admire them all! Once darkness settled in, I made my way to settle for the night.

The next morning, I decided to have an early morning walk with my camera with the idea of capturing some other good shots. Everywhere was quiet and there was not much action; I diverted to the kitchen for breakfast as it was uneventful. I encountered a brown noddy chick taking its time to get around. It was friendly as it proudly stood to pose for me (photo on side bar) and I was happy to get my first photo for the day. As the sun rose higher up, it started to get very hot and wandering around the island for photos mid-morning was becoming quite a task. By then it was also time to get my bag ready for my return trip back to Mahé, so I headed back to the house.


It had been a very interesting first trip which have impressed me a lot and giving me the feeling to return as soon as possible. It was amazing to see what lies within the trees and branches of Denis Island and to have a good insight as well as the element of surprise as to what will be waiting for me when I return soon, to get started on the coastal zone project!